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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

USS Wasp (VI)
ex
 USS Emma Henry (1864 - 1865)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Civil War Campaign Medal
Side-wheel Gunboat:
  • Built by as the Iron paddle steamer SS Emma Henry by J & G Thomson, Govan, Glasgow, Scotland. Yard # 81 for Henry Lafone, Liverpool (for Importing & Exporting Co of Georgia)
  • Launched 1 September 1864
  • Emma Henry, was captured at sea in December 1864 attempting to run the Union blockade
  • Purchased from the New York prize court, 13 January 1865, the the Navy
  • Commissioned USS Emma Henry, 11 May 1865
  • Emma Henry joined Acting Rear Admiral Sylvanus W. Godon squadron established to search for the Confederate ram CSS Stonewall
  • Damaged by collision at Charleston, S.C. and returned to Philadelphia for repairs
  • Renamed USS Wasp 13 June 1865
  • With repairs completed Wasp was assigned to the Brazil Squadron and based at Rio de Janeiro
  • Wasp patrolled in the vicinity of the La Plata and Uruguay Rivers during the war between Paraguay and the coalition of Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay to protect Americans and their interests in the combat zone
  • After the war ended in June 1870, Wasp continued to operate out of Montevideo, Uruguay, her duty consisted of transporting diplomats and generally watching out for American interests
  • Surveyed early in 1876 and found to be unfit for further naval service
  • Decommissioned that same spring
  • Sold to Mr. L. B. Scheiner of Montevideo, 5 June 1876
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 521 t.
    Length 212'
    Beam 25' 2"
    Depth of Hold 10'
    Draft 6'
    Speed unknown
    Complement unknown
    Armament
    one 30-pdr Parrott rifle
    two 24-pdr howitzers
    Propulsion steam
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Wasp
    1217115901    		 64k
    Namesake
    Wasp - Any of numerous winged hymenopterus insects possessing smooth, slender bodies, and an abdomen attached by a narrow stalk. They have well developed wings, biting mouthparts, and often administer painful stings    		 Tommy Trampp
    USS Emma Henry / USS Wasp (VI)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 4 December 2020